Do 2 year olds really have birthday parties?

ODD is invited to one of her daycare friend's brithday party in 2 weeks. She'll be 2. DD won't be 2 for another 2 months.

Do people do this? I wasn't planning on throwing DD any parties that include her friends until she's old enough to ask for it.

We'll probably go, just because I'm interested in seeing how the kids actually interact with each other at something like this, but my mind is still boggling....

Also - What would you say is the average acceptable price range for a 2 year old's birthday gift, if the family is relative strangers? I've seen the girl while picking up at daycare, but I've never met her parents.

I think some do some don't. Personally, I'm having a "friends" and family party for DD's 1st birthday. On her actual birthday we are having a special dinner and cake just mommy, daddy, and baby but she is also having a birthday party on the weekend. Our family wanted to be involved so we decided to have a party and she'll have "friends" there because aside from our parents and siblings, we also invited our best friends. Both of my BFF's and one of my husbands BFF's have babies about the same age as DD. So they are her friends by default and will likely be at her birthday every year.

We plan to start having her go to a play group this summer and if she seems to make friends there, then they may get invited to her 2nd birthday but that's more of a wait and see type thing.

I'd say you could get away with something in the $10-20 range depending on the area you live in.

I totally throw bday parties with family. I just never would have thought to start inviting friends yet. I was thinking that going would not only be a good way to see what a 2 year old's birthday is all about, but also to see if it would open the door to future play dates. I'm a teacher & DDs are home with me during the summer. Since I'm an introvert/hermit, I always feel guilty that I don't know anyone for them to play with.

i'm debating on having a small "party" with a couple of our friends. i say "party" because they are usually over here once a week anyways so the only difference would be cake lol

but i went to a 2yo party last year and the little girl had a bunch of fun. it lasted too long though. poor thing was ready for a nap just as they started to open gifts. but they did a bbq at a park and her and her cousins just ran around til cake and gifts while the adults chatted. I got her a princess wonder color book. she likes to color and this way no stains on anything

All of my kid's birthdays are within weeks of each other so I just throw a party for all of them. Technically, yes, we had a 2 year old party twice now but both times any friends that came were really siblings of my ODD.

Oh and I don't buy gifts for kids, I hate recieving them and know many parents who feel the same way so I donate in honor of the kid. $20-$50 depending upon how well I know them or a Target GC.

My LO is turning 1 in April and we're having a family and "friends" party. I'm a SAHM and part of a playgroup, so I'm inviting the moms and babies that I've met through that. Honestly, I don't expect any presents, the other moms have their own kids to buy stuff for. As for activities, I've chosen a safari theme for his party, so we've bought some safari themed toys and puzzles for the kiddos to play with. I also got some safari books and we're going to have a mini "storytime".

I'm an introvert too, and having LO has actually brought me out of my shell a bit. I was nervous going into playdates at first because of my social anxiety, but I automatically have something to talk about- our kids! And if I need a little "break", I'll just create a little space by separating to feed LO, change his diaper, etc.

Oh, and we're keeping the party time to 2 hours. That's all LO can handle at his age. And there'll be a separate room available for moms whose LOs need to decompress, be changed, be nursed, whatever.

We did a 1st party with lots of family. I don't think we did much for 3, then a small family party at 3, now a bigger one for 4. We are inviting her preschool friends but I don't expect many to come. When we go to parties for other school friends, there might be 4/13 there. I spend 15-20 on a gift.